FIGUEIRA DA FOZ (TMN League) - Ovarense secured their third Portuguese TMN League title with a 79-74 victory over Ginasio Figueirense.
This secured a 3-0 series whitewash for the play-off final, with Jarrett Stephens inspiring the visitors to victory and earning himself the Most Valuable Player award for the finals. The Ovar-based side previously won the Portuguese title in 1987-88 and again in 1999-2000, but for coach Henrique Vieira, this was his first success after six finals.
"All the finals I have lost have had a different story," Vieira said. "Now it is more important to analyse the work I have done over this last year and a half. Our main goal was to win and we did it. All we want now is to celebrate this win."
Ginasio Figueirense had in the previous two rounds lost their first two games against FC Porto and then Benfica but gone on to win the ties 3-2, but strong pressure from Ovarense made sure that feat was not repeated for a third time despite a packed-out home support. Although Ovarense were leading for most of the game, there was never more than three points between the sides in what was a much tighter game than the previous encounters.
For the home team, Nick Newman scored six points and pulled down 11 rebounds while Portuguese youngster Joao Revelves impressed with 17 points - but they were not enough. Two fouls in the last 30 seconds decided the game.
With Ginasio Figueirense trailing by just one point at 75-74, Ovarense's Heshimu Evans grabbed a rebound and was fouled. He converted the first free throw, but after missing the second, Stephens came up with the ball and was also fouled.
He sank both of his free throws to set the score in 78-74 with 14 seconds to play and victory was theirs. Ginasio Figueirense coach Sergio Salvador was magnanimous in defeat, saying: "I have to congratulate Ovarense.
"They are deserved winners for everything they have been doing. We had a chance to win this game, but at the key moment, we were distracted."
MVP Stephens added: "I am really happy - for the team, for my team-mates, coach and for the Ovar people.
"We are a great team and we have always worked like that."
By Julio Chitunda, PA Sport Exclusively for FIBA